C) I used a Nano as a AVRISP which has the same pinouts as the UNO descibed in http://arduino.cc/en/Hacking/Upgrading16U2Due

D) the Nano would error out ("avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x15") without the required a 120ohm resistor between Vcc & reset http://laclefyoshi.blogspot.ca/2011/01/note-of-caution-for-arduino-isp.html

--- this was all to no avail - my Due still can not be programed via the USB Programming port to program my Due requires a tenitive connection to the USB native port which resets after every upload (^#&$%&%!!!)